Container support for use on ladders



Sept. 4, 1962 J. D. RANKIN, JR

CONTAINER SUPPORT FOR USE ON LADDERS Filed Aug. 24, 1960 United tates Patent 3,052,442 CONTAINER SUPPORT FOR USE ON LADDERS Joseph D. Rankin, Jr., 1014 N. Magnolia St., Lansing, Mich. Filed Aug. 24, 1960, Ser. No. 51,724 1 Claim. (Cl. 248210) This invention relates to supports for containers such as paint cans and the like, and more especially to such supports on ladders.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a support which can be fabricated from a single blank of metal, thereby producing a very cheap and easily manufactured support.

Another object is to provide a support in which provision is made for automatic leveling of the container within reasonable limits, when carried by the support.

Another object is to provide such a support that can be easily and quickly changed from one level to another on the ladder as the work progresses.

These objects will more fully appear in the following specification, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary pictorial view of a ladder showing the invention thereon;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the invention, a portion of a ladder being shown in broken lines;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a blank from which the invention is formed; and

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in more retail, the in vention comprises a one piece support 10, preferably of metal, for a container, such as a paint can 9. It is shown in place on an ordinary ladder 11 in FIGURE 1. The ladder comprises a pair of side rails 12, and a plurality of transverse rungs 13.

The support is composed generally of an upright portion 14 which attaches to the ladder, and a generally horizontal portion 15 which holds the container.

The upright portion 14 is generally U-shaped in crosssection (see FIGURE 3). The free flange 16 of the U is shaped as shown in FIGURE 5, and has a downwardly opening notch 17 therein. The other flange of the U is shaped as shown in FIGURE 4. The two flanges are joined by an intermediate wall 18.

Extending laterally outwardly from the upright portion 14 is the container supporting portion 15. It has an opening 19 therein defined by a depending flange 20. This opening is large enough to receive the container with which it is intended to be used, and as most paint cans used on ladders are of standard gallon sizes, only one support need be employed for most painting jobs.

Such cans have two small pro-tuberances 24 opposite each other which receive the bail 25 of the container. Consequently, two shallow depressions 23 are formed in the horizontal ring portion 15 of the support. The con- 3,052,442 Fatented Sept. 4, 1962 tainer in such case is supported by the bubbles 24 which rest in the depressions 23. The container can rock a limited extent on the bubbles and thus is maintained in a level position by gravity, due to the fact that the greater part of the container and its contents are below the portion 15 of the support.

The flange 20 acts as a stiffener for the portion 15 of the support. This portion is also strengthened by an outer depending flange 21 which merges into the wall 18 of the upright portion.

As additional strengthening means two or more ribs or darts 22 are pressed from both portions 14 and 15 as shown best in FIGURE 2, extending across the junction of the two portions. Thus a sturdy, rigid construction is provided.

To attach the support to a ladder is simplicity itself. It is turned with the open side of the U toward the side rail, pushed onto the latter and slid downwardly until the notch 17 receives the appropriate rung 13. The paint container is placed in opening 19 and is firmly supported therein, as described previously. The container is thus held against undue movement such as is the case when it is hung from a wire bail on a ladder rung, yet it can be easily moved as the work progresses.

The support is easily made from a flat metal blank such as is shown in FIGURE 6, and can be readily fabricated in a sheet metal press.

FIGURE 7 illustrates a modified form of the invention, which is adapted to be used on either a standard ladder with rungs, or a step-ladder. The only significant difference between the two is in the formation of the free flange of the support. In this form the free flange is designated by numeral 30. It is provided with a notch 31 which can receive a rung of a ladder. The lower end of the flange is provided with a projection 33 which can drop behind a step 32 of a step-ladder, and thereby hold the support on any step of a step-ladder.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the invention provides a simple, inexpensive container support for ladders, which can be easily attached or detached from the ladder, yet holds the container securely in place.

I claim:

A one piece container support for use on ladders, which container has oppositely arranged protuberances adjacent its upper rim thereof comprising a generally horizontal container supporting portion with an opening therein to receive the container and an upright portion adapted to be removably supported by one side rail and a rung of said ladder, said upright portion being U-shaped to fit over said side rail, one flange of the U having a notch therein to receive a rung of said ladder, said horizontal portion having depressions therein at the edge of said opening to receive said protuberances.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 802,861 Hetherington Oct. 24, 1905 1,221,658 Berry Apr. 3, 1917 2,292,854 Wilcox Aug. 11, 1942 2,815,863 Larson Dec. 10, 1957 2,837,306 Elm June 3, 1958 

